Whoops! Wrong caterpillar

The photo at left that ran Thursday with an article on butterflies was misidentified as the caterpillar of a spicebush swallowtail butterfly. It is actually the mature larvae of a promethea moth, Callosamia promethea. The mistake made by reader Anthony Robbi is understandable, since this critter also feeds on the spicebush.

Sharon and Wade WanderThe caterpillar of the spicebush swallowtail butterfly.

The real spicebush swallowtail caterpillar is another cute little fellow. The photo at right was supplied by Sharon Wander, Butterfly Count Editor for the North American Butterfly Association. It was taken in the garden of Louise Zemaitis of NJ Audubon Society down in Cape May. The prominent eyespots (not eyes) are meant to confuse predators.